Mahdi is studying Cybersecurity Engineering at Victoria University and is passionate about sport. He started playing rugby at the age of five and began weightlifting in his teenage years. He enjoys the aspect of a team but suggests that individual sports can assist in building responsibility and maturity as "it's only you, and you have to do everything by yourself".  

His inspiration to start playing rugby was the All Blacks. He says, "I don't know the players, but I know the All Blacks." Since a young age, he has watched New Zealand teams compete in various sports on the world stage and is amazed by their abilities.

In 2018, Mahdi's high school in Sri Lanka, Trinity College, came to New Zealand on a 1st XV rugby trip. He describes that his team were exposed to "experienced coaches including an ex-All Black, Rodney So'oialo." Mahdi soon realised that he wished to pursue his studies in New Zealand and explained that his favourite aspects of the country were "the sport, nature and people."

Mahdi currently coaches up to 200 kids every session at Trinity College, highlighting the growth of rugby in Sri Lanka and how training environments vary between countries. He says, "it is very challenging, but I enjoy it very much as it is about passing on the knowledge and culture that my school has." Mahdi also encourages international students to get involved in a sports team  at university as "you learn how to work together with people from all different cultures."

Alongside completing his studies, Mahdi's ambition is to play rugby at the highest level in New Zealand.